Mood of Gratitude

 

The evening sky is being brushed

by the subtle grays of dusk.

Tints of lavender paint the clouds.

Warm pinks reflect on the river.

A comforting mood of gratitude

for another  good day of life.

© 2026 Richard Havenga

Photo Location: Grand River - Grand Rapids, Michigan

You may also enjoy another Gratitude poem: "Reaching" ~ July 13, 2025.

Familiar

 

Wild Blue Phlox

appear here

in late May abundance.

Silent in their growing

in the sun-dappled shade

at the edge of the woods.

Purple, lavender, a few whites.

Common and familiar,

but when hand-picked

with your favorite pruners,

selected and collected,

and arranged in

an antique vase,

their beauty warms the room

and our familiar hearts.

© 2025 Richard Havenga

Photo Locations: Home Woods & Home. 

Last Light

 

Dark silhouettes of Canada Geese

hurry past, on their way

to the shallow wetlands

of Saul Lake Bog;

gliding in low,

arriving at dusk,

as calm water

catches the day's last light,

and the soft breasts

of settling geese.

© 2024 Richard Havenga

Photo Location: Saul Lake Bog Nature Preserve

Traces of Lavender

A star of green sepals
supports five delicate petals
of the Wild Geranium.

Traces of lavender
scattered in the June woods;
waiting for your summer eyes.

© 2020 Richard Havenga

Photo Locations:

1. 2. & 3. Home Woods - Cannonsburg, Michigan

Glide Path

three geese on glide path

settle into lavender

shelter overnight 

© 2019 Richard Havenga

Photo Location: Big Crooked Lake - Kent County, Michigan

Eight Years

The little boy
carries lilacs
in his warm hands,
into the warm kitchen
where his mother is 
baking brownies for him.

She accepts
his precious gift of lavender,
inhales the fragrance of spring,
her eyes glistening with love;
his eyes sparkling with pride.

Remembering the spring
he was born
eight years ago;

eight years since
her husband
brought her lilacs
from the same bush.

© 2019 Richard Havenga

Photo Locations: Kent County - Michigan

lavender

silhouette of elms

lavender tint to morning

welcome rising sun

© 2019 Richard Havenga

Photo Location:

Boulder Creek Golf Club - Kent County, Michigan

gliding

geese gliding through trees

waiting for the fog to lift

prepared for take off

© 2018 Richard Havenga

Photo Location: McCarthy Lake - Kent County, Michigan 

Jacob

When Jacob awoke from his sleep,

"Surely he thought, the Lord is in this place,

and I was not aware of it." ~ Genesis 28:16

Photo Location: 

Provo, Utah

Early Autumn Stage

As summer settles
into September,
asters and goldenrod
accept the invitation
for this month
of transition.

Yellow and gold,
purple and lavender,
assume their places
on this early autumn stage.

In the background,
from the percussion section;
acorns and hickory nuts
begin to pound the ground,
zip through layers of leaves,
bounce off the inverted canoe.

And in the evening,
as the air cools,
crickets slow their song.

© 2018 Richard Havenga

Photo Locations:

1. & 3. Grattan Township - Kent County, Michigan

2. & 4. Home Woods - Cannonsburg, Michigan

Inconspicuous?

You could easily 
pass over
this obscure
little wildflower
unless your eyes
were wide open
looking for
discoveries,
eager to 
notice 
things.

The inside portion
resembling orchids;
cream colored
to yellowish,
with purple spots,
in between
layers of lavender.

Close up however,
you  can see it's borne
in leafy, interrupted spikes.

Its leaf-like bracts are
conspicuous, recurved,
lilac to whitish.

The corolla tube is elongated,
with a slightly inflated throat. 

Have you noticed?

© 2018 Richard Havenga

Horsemint - (Spotted Monarda) - Monarda punctata

Botanical source: Michigan Wildflowers ~ Helen Smith ~ Cranbrook Institute of Science - Michigan © 1961

Photo Location: Home Fields ~ Cannonsburg, Michigan

crocus confidence

freezing rain and snow

followed by drizzly mist

warm afternoon sun

© 2018 Richard Havenga

Photo Location: Home Garden - Cannonsburg, Michigan 

You Can Write Haiku

and now it's your turn

to try to write a haiku

about this photo

© 2018 Richard Havenga

Please use the traditional 5 - 7 - 5 method.

After you've revised your haiku into your best writing, please email it to me @ 

richmaryh@gmail.com

I will select the best haiku and publish it (with this photo) at WWFN in the near future. 

Photo Location: Crooked Lake - Grattan Township - Kent County, Michigan

Lavender Fog

Watch the slow, silver
approach of dawn.

Arms of leafless trees arched
and etched in silhouettes.

Waiting for the birth
of this brand new day.

Anticipating color,
seeking soft, lavender fog,

and the first notes of birdsong
before they're sung,

and the simple gifts of creation
waiting to be opened

as soon as they arrive.

© 2017 Richard Havenga

Photo Location: 

Oakwood Cemetery - Plainfield Township, Kent County, Michigan  

September Stage

As summer settles
into September,
asters and goldenrod
accept the invitation
to audition
for this month
of transition.

Yellow and gold,
purple and lavender,
assume their places
on this September stage.

In the background,
from the percussion section,
acorns and hickory nuts
zip through the leaves,
pound the ground,
and bounce off my
inverted canoe.

During these cooler nights,
cricket calls seem calmer
as they continue to crank out
their calibrated wing rustles;
soft stridulations 
with temperature affecting
their measured notes.

The stage is set.
Harmony prevails.
The audience approves.

© 2017 Richard Havenga

gifts of lavender

coloring the woods

sepals support soft petals

gifts of lavender

© 2016 Richard Havenga

You may also enjoy the Botanical version: Wild Geranium - May 29, 2012

Photo Location: Wild Geranium ~ Home Woods - Cannonsburg, Michigan

Dusk II

Cloud fingers stretch for last light, 
as dusk drains color from the day.

Slow ripples soften to calm,
as water plants cease wavering.

Soft summer night settles in,
as the poet searches for words.

© 2015 Richard Havenga

You may also enjoy:

"Dusk" ~ May 30, 2013 

"velvet dusk" ~ September 26, 2014

The Bells of St. Patrick's

Catholic girls from
St. Patrick School
pick lilacs from 
farmhouse yards,

then place them near the altar
with reverence and humility;
(and secret pride)
more meaningful than any
store-bought, flower-shop bouquet.

From this fragrant offering,
one small flower 
shaped like a tiny bell,
falls softly, silently,
next to the candles
that are reflected 
in the gold chalice.

These lilacs, fresh as 
a May morning,
are expressive of the love
these girls possess,
the love they profess 
in prayer
as they attend 
morning mass,

listening to
the bells of St. Patrick's,
waiting 
to receive the grace
they hoped for 
when they offered 
these living treasures
flowering in lavender.

Soon the same hands
that gave the gift
that flourished in the sun
will receive the bread of life,
the body of Christ, God's son
who flourished briefly on earth,
who continues to guide
these willing participants,
continues to bless their lives.

*          *          *          *          *          *          *          *

Twenty years later one of these girls
will receive a bouquet of 
lavender love from lilac bushes
planted by her husband,
now picked by her husband
from their farmhouse yard.

From inside the screen door,
on the back porch,
the young mother watches
her toddling daughter being 
guided through the grass,
holding in her little palm
the father's finger,
the living flesh.

Now he lifts his daughter 
into his arms, up high,
to smell the fragrance.
Her new church dress
the color of lilacs.

She cannot express
the joy she feels
in her little girl heart,
until she hears the bells
of St. Patrick's 
across the fields.

The child's laughter,
ringing across the fields, 
and inside her father's heart,
becomes a pure gift
for her father,
for her Father.

The mother,
watching silently
from the back porch,
holds this moment
deep in her heart.

Now, closing her eyes,
she inhales this fragrant offering
from her own table,
listens to the bells of St. Patrick's,
senses His presence,
still feels the reverence,
and the faith of her family.

As they prepare for church,
she imagines the altar
so many years ago
gifted with lilacs,
and is grateful
for the grace 
she was given.

© 2015 Richard Havenga

You may also enjoy: The Steps of St. Patrick's 

Photo Locations:

1, 3, 5, 7, 11, 12 : St. Patrick Church - Parnell, Michigan

2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 13, 14 : Home/Garden - Cannonsburg, Michigan

9. Parnell, Michigan